Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, Paul Goldschmidt sponsor youth ball field
Goodyear’s Falcon Park receives $500,000 in upgrades 

Youth baseball and softball players will now have the opportunity to play on an upgraded field, thanks to a generous donation from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, APS, and Paul Goldschmidt The newly-upgraded field feature: new lights; an electronic scoreboard; new fencing and backstops; new irrigation, grass and dirt; as well as updated dugouts and bullpens. The upgrades to Falcon Park are valued at more than $500,000 and were completed at no cost to the city.

Paul Goldschmidt, nicknamed “Goldy”, is the first baseman of the Arizona Diamondbacks. With the team since 2011, Goldschmidt is a four-time Major League Baseball All-Star. He has won the National League Hank Aaron Award, Gold Glove Award, and Silver Slugger Award.

For more information on youth recreation opportunities in Goodyear, call 623-882-7525, email gyrec@goodyearaz.gov or visit www.goodyearaz.gov/rec.

See more photos from the day’s events at the City of Goodyear Facebook page.

Representatives from the City of Goodyear at GE in New York. 

The City of Goodyear was recently announced as one of only nine cities to win the GE HealthyCities Leadership Challenge!

The city was recognized for its plan of Goodyear Community Health Park, a community wellness area anchored by two West Valley hospitals and supported by a coalition of community partners in Goodyear. The 129-acre project is being developed through a collaboration between the City of Goodyear, Abrazo West Campus, Adelante Healthcare, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and Hickman Farms, among others.

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and Representatives from Goodyear recently traveled to New York for recognition of their efforts and to attend a workshop that kicks off a year-long learning collaborative with GE and other communities working on healthy communities projects.

Read more about the Goodyear Community Health Park at the City of Goodyear. 

Photos from Pam Weir, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Goodyear

Join us in celebrating Independence Day with an evening full of food, fun and music!

***June 24 through July 4, participate in our #Goodyear4th contest for a chance to win $500 in prizes!***

ALL-AMERICAN COOKOUT – $10 for adults; $5 for children 12 and under
Adult plate includes entree choice of hot dog, hamburger, cheeseburger or 1/4 chicken paired with potato salad, baked beans, watermelon and cookie.
Children’s plate includes entree choice of hot dog, hamburger, cheeseburger or 1/4 chicken paired with chips, watermelon and cookie.

Activities include:

• Inflatable water slides and bounce houses ($10 – wristband for unlimited rides; $5 for 3 individual ride tickets)
• Live music by the Groove Merchants
• Nathan’s hot dog eating contest
• All-American Pie in the Face trivia contest
• Dig for Cash
• Character Meet & Greet
• Battle Ball Challenge
• Cornhole
• Prizes and giveaways
• Air-conditioned suites with food package available for purchase – SOLD OUT! 
• 20 minute fireworks spectacular!

Parking and admission are FREE! Additional parking available at Desert Edge High School with shuttle service throughout the evening.

View ROAD CLOSURES for this event.

What can/can’t you bring into the ballpark?
Note: Sparklers and/or other fireworks are NOT permitted. 

Ryan Lantz, director of Arizona operations for the Cleveland Indians, 1 Millionth Fan Jean Wilson, Mike Saverino, director of Arizona operations for the Cincinnati Reds and Bruce Kessman, general manager of Goodyear Ballpark. Photo Courtesy of City of Goodyear.

Jean Wilson of Las Vegas, who grew up in the west Cleveland suburb of Westlake, Ohio, was recognized as the 1 Millionth Fan at Goodyear Ballpark in the middle of the fourth inning during Saturday night’s attendance record, sold-out Cleveland Indians spring training game against the Chicago Cubs (11,616). She was showered with confetti and a glittery hat as she jumped up and down in disbelief and excitement.

Wilson, a retired physical therapist and lifelong Cleveland Indians fan, also received a gift basket, a special jersey with the Reds and Indians team logos on the sleeve and won a trip to where else? Las Vegas. What are the odds of that? After the end of the Indians 10-5 win over the Cubs, Jean was taken onto the field where she pulled envelopes out of a basket to win a chance at winning $1 million, $10,000 or a trip to Las Vegas.

Jean and her husband, Craig, attend two Indians spring training games each year since Goodyear Ballpark opened in 2009. In fact, the screensaver on her cell phone is the 2016 Cleveland Indians schedule.

“I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it,” Wilson said of being the 1 Millionth Fan. “This is one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. Win or lose, I’m an Indians fan. I want to see them win the World Series.”

Goodyear Ballpark’s 1 Millionth Fan, Jean Wilson. Photo Courtesy of City of Goodyear

Jean’s husband, Craig, said, “This is great. It doesn’t get any better than this. When we were coming into the game, Jean was talking about the 1 Millionth Fan – and she’s it. This is uncanny.”

A native of Cleveland, Wilson fondly recalled earning free tickets to Indians games at Municipal Stadium for earning Straight A’s in school.

In 2010, she also threw out the first pitch at a regular-season Indians game at Progressive Field, a birthday present from her sister.

Ryan Lantz, director of Arizona operations for the Cleveland Indians, 1 Millionth Fan Jean Wilson, Mike Saverino, director of Arizona operations for the Cincinnati Reds and Bruce Kessman, general manager of Goodyear Ballpark.

Pictured in the fourth picture are Jean Wilson and her husband, Craig, who met each other in Westlake.

Winning art: Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord being presented with the 2015 Community Leaders’ Art Award from WHAM Art Association President Connie Whitlock for her winning piece of art “Enlightenment” in the “Bout for the Arts” competition. The recent competition consisted of 65 community leaders from government, businesses and organizations. Art consisted of recycled items for the pieces submitted from April to the end of June. Mayor Lord used pieces of pages from National Geographic Magazine that uses a citric acid in its printing process. Mayor Lord’s work portrayed the progress of women through early centuries to present day. Here, Connie Whitlock is holding Mayor’s Lord’s “City with the Biggest HeArt” Award for Goodyear. Congratulations to Mayor Lord!

WHAM supports, advances, and promotes artistic awareness, participation, and expression in all areas of Visual Arts. It is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2006 by Connie Whitlock, a clay artist in her own right. Since then, the organization has grown to more than 150 artists that work in many different mediums. WHAM members work in various materials ranging from paint, clay, glass, concrete, paper, and much more!

Locally-owned Prime Solutions Group to fine-tune weapons systems performance

Prime Solutions Group, an aerospace and defense consulting contractor located at the West Valley Technology Center near the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport, has received a prestigious Small Business Innovative Research grant from the United States Air Force.

Joseph Marvin, president of the 17-employee firm, said the Phase I grant is a major accomplishment that will allow his company to begin working on a cutting-edge project over the next year to help the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. PSG’s research will help fine-tune weapons systems compatibility and communications that will take fighter jets ranging from the F-16s to F-35s to long-range bombers to the next performance level. If the government accepts the results of his Phase I research, that would put Prime Solutions in line for a $1 million Small Business Innovative Research Phase II grant.

Prime Solutions Group is located in a 10,000-square-foot space of Building 4 at the former Lockheed Martin campus, 1300 S. Litchfield Road, and has continued to grow since Marvin launched it in his Waddell home. Marvin has since added engineers and scientists to accomplish the advanced research at the current location he leased earlier this year.

“This is exciting news,” Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord said of Prime Solutions Group’s most recent grant. “PSG’s advanced technology represents the future of the Goodyear business ecosystem and mission of innovation. The city plans to maintain its presence in the aerospace and defense industry, and PSG is conducting research that is vital.”

This grant, which was awarded in the amount of $150,000, marks the third Small Business Innovative Research Grant Prime Solutions Group has received over the last two years in the area of complex system design. It will allow research in Modeling and Simulation for Design, Development, Testing and Evaluation of Autonomous Multi-Agent Models. In 2013 and last year, PSG received SBIR contracts from the Department of Defense that is allowing the firm to conduct research on fine-tuning the accuracy of the missile defense system.

The objective of the latest research is to complement capabilities of future Air Force autonomous systems that require interoperable tools and methodologies to design, verify, validate, assess and operate human-machine system interactions associated with autonomous and manned systems integration. The first phase of the effort will start with an F-16 tactical environment and expand to Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations. PSG’s research all makes sense as nearby Luke Air Force Base is ramping up its pilot training with the F-35 II A Lightning Fighter jets. PSG’s research all makes sense as nearby Luke Air Force Base is ramping up its pilot training with the F-35 II A Lightning Fighter jets. PSG’s research all makes sense as nearby Luke Air Force Base is ramping up its pilot training with the F-35 II A Lightning Fighter jets.

PSG’s research in Goodyear, makes sense as Luke Air Force Base near Goodyear is ramping up its is ramping up its pilot training with the F-35 II A Lightning Fighter jets.pilot training with the F-35 II A Lightning Fighter Jets, Marvin said.

“The Air Force is looking for “next level” capability necessary to design future complex systems, and that is right in our wheelhouse,” said Marvin, who will collaborate with global leaders on autonomous systems and systems challenges at the International Symposium of the International Council on Systems Engineering next week in Seattle.

“Our winning proposal teamed with world-class partners including the Arizona State University Cognitive Engineering Research Institute, Georgia Tech Research Institute, IBM Research and Lockheed Martin,” Marvin added. We want to see how the existing weapons systems will interact with the new systems including with the pilot, satellite systems and ground systems.”

PSG had established offices at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport in 2010 to be collocated with their prime customer Lockheed Martin.

“When Lockheed Martin announced its plans to downsize in Goodyear, many people thought it was the end of PSG,” Marvin said. “Not so. We’ve grown from five to 17 people over the past two years. “We are excited about future opportunities and proud to be part of a growing hi-tech business environment that builds on a legacy of historic achievements right here in Goodyear.”

Much of former Lockheed Martin campus is configured with data access and security features necessary to support defense programs. The uniqueness of the space accommodates PSG’s current and projected growth and can also accommodate other companies focused in cyber security and related information technologies.

Reliance Management working with brokers, Brian Gleason, SIOR and Bonnie Halley, CCIM of Phoenix West Commercial of Litchfield Park, have been marketing space in four buildings previously occupied by Lockheed. There are three office buildings totaling 22,837 square feet as well as a 13,138 square foot data center available for immediate occupancy. Phoenix West Commercial is also actively marketing the remaining 11 buildings totaling 412,160 square feet.

Marvin attributes much of PSG’s growth to expanded Lockheed Martin subcontracting that retains key engineering and development personnel.

“Lockheed Martin left a foundation to build upon,” Marvin said. “Now we have the opportunity to extend the heritage at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport from sensor integration to new horizons of Sensor Networks of Sensors. Lockheed has been very helpful and supported PSG as an industry sponsor on the recent innovative research award from the Air Force.”

“PSG’s vision is to be on the leading edge of future complex system developments,” Marvin added. “The company recognizes future system challenges as an opportunity for leadership in new development paradigms. Data analytics and advanced software programming are essential to meet new imperatives of advanced defense, energy and health care systems. We are at the edge of developments in cognitive processing and intelligent systems – and we are going to do that right here in Goodyear, Arizona,” Marvin said.

The City of Goodyear is lacing up its hiking boots and strapping on its bike helmet for a few new exciting projects!

Goodyear Pump Bike Track 

Goodyear’s Foothills Community Park is now home to a brand new pump track!   Opened just two weeks ago, the small track promotes fitness, wellness and cycling.

A pump track is a small track, built using a small piece of land, and is a looping trail system of dirt berms and “rollers,” smooth dirt mounds for pumping, designed for bicycling without the rider pedaling.

A pump track that promotes fitness and wellness and cycling will be dedicated on Saturday, April 25 at 8:30 a.m. at Foothills Community Park, 12795 S. Estrella Parkway.

It was constructed over a five-month period with the help of 100 volunteers who donated about 2,500 hours, in addition to 200 staff hours.

The small track, built using as little as 10 feet by 30 feet of land, and is a looping trail system of dirt berms and “rollers” (smooth dirt mounds for pumping) designed for bicycling without the rider pedaling. The name “pump track” comes from the pumping motion used by the rider’s upper and lower body as they ride around the track.

Goodyear REI Distribution Center 

Seattle-based REI, a leading outdoor retailer, has announced it will open a 400,000-square-foot distribution center creating more than 100 new jobs in the West Valley – becoming the third tenant along the newly-opened Loop 303 in Goodyear.

REI offers its members and customers outdoor gear and apparel for activities such as for hiking, biking and camping. The company is expected to break ground on the facility covering 34 acres near Loop 303 and Camelback Road in May and open in early 2016. REI has been one of a few select companies recognized on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” since the recognition began in 1998.

The addition of REI to Goodyear continues to solidify not only Goodyear’s, but the West Valley’s presence as a major player in online fulfillment centers that provide high-quality goods to consumers and retailers throughout the western United States.

Mia Amundsen’s rise to football fame pretty much began with the Goodyear Parks and Recreation Department – and a lot of dedication.

The Goodyear girl, who is a fourth grader at Palm Valley Elementary School, ended the National Football League’s prestigious Punt, Pass and Kick competition by finishing first to win a state championship.

She scored 129.5 points, the best in the girls’ 8-9 year-old division in a portion of the football program’s state championships held on the field of University of Phoenix Stadium during the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The Punt, Pass and Kick Program has been recognized by the NFL for more than 50 years. The free competition gives boys and girls ages six through 15 the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in punting, passing and place kicking.  Each participant is given one punt, one pass and one kick to accumulate a score.  Scores are received and calculated with distance and accuracy providing the final scoring distance.

Mia, who is the daughter of Ty and Diane Amundsen, advanced to the state competition after placing first in the Punt, Kick and Pass sectional competition at Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale on Nov. 1.

Although there was no guarantee Mia would advance to the state finals as there are other state competitions held throughout the state and the top four scores overall advance, her parents later received word via email that she advanced to the state finals. Her age group included more than 100 kids throughout the state.

For her state championship, Mia was shown on the Jumbo-Tron video screen and awarded a football for a trophy during the third quarter of the Cardinals’ game.

Mia also plays volleyball, basketball and softball, and also is a member of her school’s chorus.

Her mother said that she became interested in the program when it was held at her school in September.

“She just thought it would be fun to give it a try for the fun of it,” Diane Amundsen. “This was her second year of participating in the program. She’s a busy one.”

Competitors begin competing at the local level with high scores advancing to a sectional competition.  Goodyear’s local competition was offered by the Parks and Recreation Department and held at Goodyear Ballpark on Sept. 30.  The four top scores from the five sectionals in each age division for both boy’s and girl’s advance to the state competition held at the University of Phoenix Stadium prior to an Arizona Cardinals game.

All NFL teams host a state competition with the four highest scores in each age division advancing on to the National Competition usually held prior to an NFL playoff game (city yet to be determined).  During each competition participants begin with a new score of zero.

The Goodyear Fire Department again joined forces last weekend with the Arizona Burn Foundation to help make homes safer by providing free smoke alarms in hopes of saving lives.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, 56 volunteers from Liberty Water, Waste Management, Goodyear Fire Department Cadets, and local high school students installed 106 new smoke alarms in 83 homes in Litchfield Park. Goodyear has contracted to provide fire and emergency services to the town for about the last four years.
About three out of five fire deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms or in homes where they are not properly maintained, according to information from the Goodyear Fire Department’s Risk Reduction division.
Tanja Tanner, community risk reduction coordinator for the Goodyear Fire Department, said she was grateful for the participation in the program as more homes become equipped with new smoke alarms.
“The program isn’t to save a house, it’s to save a life,” Tanner said. “Our goal is to have a working smoke alarm in every home. We look for the older homes that need them the most. Now, the majority of homes in Goodyear are at least 10 years old, and people need to know they should not only have a smoke alarm, but make sure it works.”
In the past, Goodyear fire has provided smoke alarms to homes in the Historic Goodyear, Canada Village and Palmateer neighborhoods, and has partnered with the Arizona Burn Foundation for five years for the free smoke alarm program.
“It’s important that people check a smoke alarm every month, and change the batteries once a year.” Tanner added. “Smoke alarms last about eight to 10 years, so it’s important to replace them at least every decade.”
Each installation in Litchfield Park also included information about how to maintain the new alarms and also information such as escape plans and proper 911 instructions.
For more information on this program, call (623) 882-7308 or visit or www.azburn.org.

As the City Manager of Goodyear, Brian Dalke is always thinking about how to make the city better into the future. His forward-thinking attitude has been the guiding aspect for recently adopting a new city strategic plan and implementing a city-wide performance measure program.

He is also focused on the city’s residents, working with city employees to ensure that they are satisfied with the work their city is doing. He works closely with the Human Resources Department to develop an employee appraisal tool that is aligned to core customer service values. He has also started an initiative for Priority Based Budgeting, which will help facilitate meaningful communication between Council and staff about resources and their city initiatives.

Before becoming City Manager, Brian spent twenty years working for the city, learning the culture of Goodyear. He joined as an Economic Development Director, leading the small city as it made its mark in the West Valley. In his role there, he helped charge on many development agreements and projects that still continue to sustain the city.

His role in development continued as Deputy City Manager, where he oversaw key projects like the Estrella Falls Regional Mall agreement, which is slotted to bring a 1.2 million square-foot regional shopping center to the West Valley in 2016. In addition, the was instrumental in the development of the Goodyear Ballpark and Recreational Development Complex, which serves as a year-round economic engine for the community, and a venue for many events for the community to enjoy.

Brian likes to say that in Goodyear, they are in the “forever business,” and his guidance is ensuring Goodyear will be prosperous for many years to come. He is one of the many reasons Arizona Cities Work!